Every Woman, Every Child (EWEC) High-Level Event

20 SEPTEMBER 2011 | NEW YORK – The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the special first anniversary EWEC High-Level meeting, attended by Heads of State, CEOs of the Private Sector and NGOS, and other UN and government officials. “When we deliver for every woman and every child, we will advance a better life for all people around the world,” Mr. Ban said at the UN Headquarters event held on the margins of the 66th session of the General Assembly.

In the Plenary section dedicated to showcase new contributions, partners and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced more than 100 new commitments to the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. Notable new game-changing commitments: private sector partners including Merck will launch a ten-year maternal initiative. Find the list of new commitments, including PMNCH members -- to download on the right, along with the Reports at the meeting: the EWEC one-year Report: "Saving the Lives of 16 Million”, and the PMNCH 2011 Report.

Quotes of note

Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. H.E. Sheik Hasina spoke of Bangladesh's commitment: "to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021, including better education and empowerment of every woman and child in Bangladesh, especially the most vulnerable." She spoke of her country's commitments to train 3000 midwives by 2015, and their commitment to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.

The Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that Norway would continue its commitment to the Global Strategy: "We are making progress. Our joint effort is paying off. ...But the job is not yet done...Further reduction in child mortality requires our continued vigilance."

The President of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Kikwete Kikwete, was one of two Co-Chairs of the Commission on Information and Accountability on Women's and Children's Health, implemented by the Secretary General to ensure the commitments were implemented. He noted the importance in Africa of the fight against malaria: "Tanzania has done everything it can, and what was recommended by the Commission, to improve women's and children's health, including tracking of resources and measuring results."

Prime Minister of Canada, and Commission Co-Chair, H.E. Stephen Harper spoke of Canada’s efforts in maternal and child health in the G8 Muskoka Initiative, as well increased support for accountability: “The key to this is Accountability,” said Mr Harper. "Together, we will ensure that the promised resources are delivered...We need to remember ...that mothers , newborn and children in the worlds poorest countries are counting on us."

PMNCH at EWEC

Dr Julio Frenk, Dean of Harvard's School of Public Health, and the Chair of PMNCH spoke of “game-changers” and in particular, stressed two powerful ideas: integration and accountability. Dr Frenk pointed to the MDGs and the Commission on Information and Accountability as examples: "There was great vision to build accountability into the process (of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health). That has been a model for others. The idea of a independent Review Panel is also game-changing idea." Dr Frenk pointed to the PMNCH 2011 Report on the Commitments to the Global Strategy, the production of which he oversaw as Chair of the Board of PMNCH, as part of this process.

In an impassioned speech, the General Secretary of World YWCA, Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda spoke of working through PMNCH together to achieve results: "We rise together in committing to the necessary measures to end these preventable deaths...We continue to strive for a world where all women and children have the right to health....We commit and pledge to promote accountability, to advocate for the key commitments, to deliver effective programs....We are working together through the PMNCH as we develop the NGO accountability framework."

EWEC High-Level Dialogue and Reception

United Nations MDG Advocate Ray Chambers, in his capacity as Chair of the Health-MDGs cluster will lead the Dialogue, with the participation of the Heads of State and Government as well as CEOs, NGO leaders and celebrities. The evening will be a dynamic, interactive effort to bring new people, organizations, and sectors into the race to meet the health MDGs and will continue the afternoon themes with added energy, commitments, and media platforms covering the event. An evening reception will follow the afternoon event, which will be hosted by UN MDG advocate Ray Chambers, to be attended by heads of state and government, as well as CEOs, NGO leaders, celebrities and key stakeholders.

Follow EWEC at Twitter and find the archived WEBCAST of the Event at http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/

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The Partnership (PMNCH)

joins the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health communities into an alliance of members, across seven constituencies. Working together, our goal is a world in which all women, newborns, children and adolescents not only are healthy, but thrive.